Lukaku set Rooney target by Mourinho

AFP, MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho has suggested that Romelu Lukaku will struggle to match Wayne Rooney's Manchester United achievements, because the Premier League has become a much more demanding competition.

Lukaku has made an impressive start to his United career since arriving from Everton for £75million in July, a day after Rooney made the move in the opposite direction.

The 24-year-old has scored six times in his first six appearances for United, in addition to scoring the goal against Greece in early September that secured Belgium's place at next year's World Cup finals.

He faces a major challenge, though, to match Rooney, who left Everton for United and became their all-time record scorer, with 253 goals during his 13 years at Old Trafford, winning the Champions League once and the Premier League five times.

The former England captain was only 18 when he arrived at United from Everton for £25.6m in August 2004, and Mourinho does not believe Lukaku will have the time to match Rooney's achievements.

The Belgian however did score 87 goals in 166 Everton games. United's manager also argues that Rooney had an easier job scoring goals at United, because the Premier League was a more attack-minded competition for much of his time at the club.

Mourinho said: “I think Wayne spent probably 10 years of his career in a different Premier League than you have now.

“It was a Premier League where it was easier to score goals, not just because of the difference between the top teams and others but also because of the profile and the tactical interpretation of the competition. I think this Premier League is much more defensive-minded, and much more difficult.”

Even so, Mourinho is of the view that Lukaku will continue to benefit from playing in a United side who carry more attacking threat than they did last season.

Lukaku set Rooney target by Mourinho

AFP, MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho has suggested that Romelu Lukaku will struggle to match Wayne Rooneys Manchester United achievements, because the Premier League has become a much more demanding competition. Lukaku has made an impressive start to his United career since arriving from Everton for 75million in July, a day after Rooney made the move in the opposite direction. The 24-year-old has scored six times in his first six appearances for United, in addition to scoring the goal against Greece in early September that secured Belgiums place at next years World Cup finals. He faces a major challenge, though, to match Rooney, who left Everton for United and became their all-time record scorer, with 253 goals during his 13 years at Old Trafford, winning the Champions League once and the Premier League five times. The former England captain was only 18 when he arrived at United from Everton for 25.6m in August 2004, and Mourinho does not believe Lukaku will have the time to match Rooneys achievements. The Belgian however did score 87 goals in 166 Everton games. Uniteds manager also argues that Rooney had an easier job scoring goals at United, because the Premier League was a more attack-minded competition for much of his time at the club. Mourinho said: I think Wayne spent probably 10 years of his career in a different Premier League than you have now. It was a Premier League where it was easier to score goals, not just because of the difference between the top teams and others but also because of the profile and the tactical interpretation of the competition. I think this Premier League is much more defensive-minded, and much more difficult. Even so, Mourinho is of the view that Lukaku will continue to benefit from playing in a United side who carry more attacking threat than they did last season.